How the men of ‘Task’ see the show’s troubled fathers and the damage they’ve caused

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After “Mare of Easttown” blew up on HBO – seriously, that show with Kate Winslet as the detective solving that tough case in a small town was amazing – I learned Brad Ingelsby, the creator, specifically didn’t want to make another mystery where you’re trying to figure out ‘who did it’ next. He wanted to do something different!

He explained that the idea came from Mare. “When you’re writing a crime story, you need to think about what will keep viewers hooked,” he said recently. “I started thinking about a show where storylines gradually move closer and closer to each other, building tension until everything comes to a head.”

The HBO series “Task,” which ended Sunday, stars Mark Ruffalo as Tom Brandis, an FBI agent who used to be a priest. He leads an investigation into a string of robberies in Delaware County, Pennsylvania – the same area where “Mare of Easttown” was set. The show feels like an extension of that world, with mentions of local favorites like Wawa and Scrapple, and visits to Rita’s Water Ice. The case leads Tom to Robbie Prendergast (Tom Pelphrey), a garbage collector who robs drug dealers to support his family. Both men are haunted by past tragedies – Tom’s wife was killed by their son, who is now in prison, and Robbie’s brother was murdered by a biker – which have led them down troubled paths.

According to Ingelsby, the show ‘Mare’ focused on the consequences of men’s actions and how mothers dealt with the aftermath. This new show flips that, exploring the perspective of fathers and the impact they’ve had on their children. It examines whether these fathers will try to repair the damage they’ve caused, even if they don’t realize they’ve done it, or if they’ll be unable to.

According to Ingelsby, his uncle, an Augustinian priest, was a key inspiration for the central theme of the show.

Review

‘Task,’ from creator of ‘Mare of Easttown,’ is centered on two tenderhearted, tragic men

Brad Ingelsby, who created the hit show ‘Mare of Easttown,’ is back with another crime drama filmed in Pennsylvania. This new series features Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey playing two troubled men.

He’s always been fascinated by Robbie’s evolving faith and how his beliefs have changed throughout his life. He was particularly drawn to the idea of someone having their core beliefs challenged and broken down. Both characters have unique faiths, and the story explores how their lives connect and allow them to each explore their own spiritual journeys.

During a dinner at a West Hollywood hotel, The Times spoke with Björn Ingelsby, Mark Ruffalo, and Josh Pelphrey about their personal beliefs, the issue of economic inequality, experiences with fatherhood, and even the convenience store chain, Wawa. Below are highlights from that conversation, which includes some details about how the show ends.

This show explores the ideas of forgiveness and faith – concepts everyone grapples with at some point in life. We’re curious to hear how your personal understanding of faith and forgiveness has changed over time, both through your own life experiences and through the characters you’ve played.

For me, faith is deeply connected to getting sober. If all goes well, on October 1st – just three days from now – I’ll be celebrating 12 years of sobriety. I truly believe that’s only possible through God’s grace. I was raised Catholic, but the experience I had at 31 felt completely different from anything I’d previously understood about religion. It’s one thing to intellectually understand an idea, and another to have a profound emotional experience. Faith is a really important part of my life, and I think Brad did a wonderful job portraying that in the show. It reminds me of a glass decoration my grandmother had when I was a child. It wasn’t a real gem, but it would catch the sunlight and create beautiful, colorful patterns everywhere. That’s how I feel Brad approached certain themes in the show – he explored them from many different angles.

Mark Ruffalo describes his experiences with faith as being similar to those of a friend, noting that life events often lead us to explore or question our beliefs. After his brother’s death, he lost his faith. Growing up with addiction and alcoholism in his family, he realized that faith is often tested when loving someone struggling with those issues – it requires trusting that things will work out, even when it’s difficult. He recalls a friend pointing out that the person he loved had a higher power they relied on, and it wasn’t him.

I’ve actually rediscovered my faith through playing Tom, a character struggling with alcoholism. It’s profoundly impacted my life, even in relation to my brother, and it’s strange that both losing and regaining my faith have been connected to this portrayal of addiction. I often question things – looking at the world and wondering where God is, asking for a sign. But ultimately, I choose to believe in faith, even without proof, rather than believing in nothing. It was challenging, because even within the story, my co-star Brad and I debated whether Tom was *actually* praying. He went through the motions, trying to connect with God, but initially struggled to even begin a prayer. Eventually, he finds his way, but it’s a difficult process.

Television

Emilia Jones, known for her role in ‘CODA,’ is starring in a new HBO crime drama called ‘Task,’ alongside Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey. It’s a challenging part for the rising star.

Episode 5 features a particularly moving scene where Tom and Robbie meet in a car. Robbie confesses he’s never felt a connection to something greater than himself, a profound statement from someone who’s lost hope but now sees a potential escape to Canada. Tom, can you describe how you prepared to portray a character desperate to leave his current life behind?

It’s deeply sad to portray a version of the American dream that so many people can’t achieve, and are starting to give up on. It’s a very real and increasingly common situation. Throughout the process, I kept focusing on what motivated the character: ultimately, he just wants a good life for his children. The fact that he’s struggling to provide that is truly heartbreaking.

When I first read that scene, and the one in the car, I was really impressed by Brad’s courage. It felt risky to have such a calm conversation between two characters when so much was happening – with all the storylines, violence, and high stakes building up in the show. To spend half an episode just talking in a car seemed unexpected.

Mark Ruffalo explained that there’s no traditional pursuit in the storyline, and when the characters finally confront each other, it’s not a direct face-off. Both characters are incredibly stressed and the outcome is uncertain, even for Tom himself. Tom’s character reaches a breaking point, almost daring the other character to make a move. Ruffalo even suggested to the filmmakers that Tom’s character should die.

[They break into laughter]

Ingelsby: Every single day he was pitching it.

Mark Ruffalo suggested a dramatic ending for Tom’s character where he has a heart attack and experiences a vision of God. In that moment, Tom would express his readiness and finally embrace faith, culminating in a powerful, breathy line: “I’m… ready.”

Ingelsby explained that while many characters die on the show, a specific episode always stood out to him as representing the series at its best. He described a desire to surprise the audience while remaining true to the characters’ personalities. He recalled a conversation with Tom, who immediately knew his character’s next move upon learning of another character’s fate. Conversely, he remembered Mark’s character reacting to a life-threatening situation by wanting to connect with his family – a moment that brought a sense of urgency and authenticity to the story, shifting from simply going through the motions to facing a truly real crisis.

Ruffalo: It’s like being reborn. It opens his heart. He sees how life can be taken away.

Right now, the country feels very tense and divided, with a lot of anger coming from both sides. This anger is often rooted in long-standing social and economic problems that affect people’s opportunities. Beyond that, both of these individuals are also dealing with personal grief.

I was drawn to Robbie’s character because he felt truly trapped. What resonated with me was the thought of what would become of him if he didn’t change – he’d be stuck in a dead-end life with no support system. Early drafts of the script even stated he just wanted a chance at something better. There are a lot of people who feel that way today. I enjoyed writing Robbie because he’s fighting against being overlooked and left behind, and the script often asks: why *wouldn’t* someone take action, regardless of whether you agree with their choices?

Pelphrey’s character feels deeply wronged – his life was essentially taken from him. He’s not just seeking money; he has a very specific target in mind – people he considers truly bad. Even though he’s taking drastic action, he operates with a surprising code of ethics. While the show’s rules become more flexible in Episode 2, he won’t resort to harming others, selling drugs, or even distributing them. Instead, he intends to destroy the drugs and take the money. Despite his aggressive approach, he has a clear set of principles guiding his actions.

In the new film “Task,” Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey play two men whose paths are destined to cross. Ruffalo stars as an FBI agent grappling with personal loss, and Pelphrey plays a garbage collector with a criminal past who’s been involved in several robberies. (Bexx Francois/For The Times)

Considering Mark and Tom’s roles as both sons and fathers, how did you interpret the father-son dynamics between these two characters, and the negative consequences of the decisions they made?

Mark Ruffalo says being a father is really challenging, especially these days. This generation is realizing they don’t want to repeat the mistakes of their own fathers and are actively trying to find a better way to parent, and they’re talking about it. But figuring out *what* that better way is, while also managing the financial pressures of raising a family, is tough. He acknowledges it’s equally hard for mothers, and believes parents are simply doing their best.

Becoming a dad two and a half years ago has been the most incredible, intense, and transformative experience of my life – it’s completely overwhelming in the best way. It’s like a jolt of pure emotion; I feel so much love, but also incredibly vulnerable and happy – it’s a full spectrum of feelings. Then you start to think about raising your child, wondering how to balance protecting them with encouraging them to be brave and explore the world. You quickly realize how much is beyond your control, and that realization is profound. I’ve already had glimpses of that, and we’re only at the beginning. Before having kids, you can imagine what it might be like, but you have no idea what it’s *really* like. One thing I can say with complete certainty is that I now truly understand why parents make the choices they do.

Was there a version where Robbie lived?

Ingelsby explained that it was crucial for Tom to see Robbie’s compassion and ultimate sacrifice. Tom constantly asks about the plan, so Robbie going to the woods to essentially die needed to be revealed. Witnessing this goodness was key to Tom’s emotional journey – letting go of his anger and finding something to believe in. Robbie also puts himself in an impossible situation with no easy escape. If Robbie survived, even with jail time, it wouldn’t feel right. The idea of self-sacrifice was meant to resonate with Tom, leading him to give up Sam, forgive his son, and prepare a home for him.

Television

For HBO’s “Mare of Easttown,” a dedicated dialect coach went to great lengths to perfectly replicate the Pennsylvania accent. Here’s a look at her process.

Mark, how did you feel about the statement that Tom winds up giving at the hearing in the finale?

Mark Ruffalo explained that his character had to really reflect and write things down, almost without knowing what would come out. He was evaluating his own life and his son’s, and considering their shared history. It wasn’t just about grieving his wife; it was about the life they built together, and how even through difficult times, they discovered what love truly meant. When the character finally interacts with his son, he isn’t planning to bring up the past, but the events of the story naturally lead him to confront him and ask for his attention. The entire journey culminates in that moment.

There’s something, too, about his composure in that moment.

Ingelsby: That’s the genius of Mark. That was the first or second take, what we used.

How many versions of it did you write? Was there an overly emotional or dramatic version?

Ingelsby explained that there was an earlier draft of the scene, but the key to the final version—which he praised Mark for delivering beautifully—was honesty. He was initially concerned it would be overly sentimental if the character immediately professed love. Instead, it felt more authentic for the character to admit how awful the experience was, and to acknowledge the shame associated with changing his name.

Yes, it’s really admitting that I acted like I wasn’t his father. It’s both shameful and incredibly honest to say that.

What really struck me about this actor’s performance is the raw honesty he brings to the role. It makes the moment of forgiveness incredibly powerful. When he delivers that line – ‘I forgive you’ – you truly *believe* it. He’s built up that trust throughout the film by openly acknowledging his own deeply flawed and shameful actions. It’s a beautifully earned moment.

Mark Ruffalo explained that forgiveness isn’t one-sided; there’s often deep shame and anger on the other side, stemming from wondering what one could have done differently. In his situation, he left knowing his father was struggling, needing to go himself, and mistakenly believed the situation would resolve on its own. He emphasizes that his father also needs to acknowledge his own role in the past. He described a painful rejection, where his father essentially disowned him, saying he wasn’t his son and was already withdrawing emotionally.

We envision a realistic conclusion, not necessarily a happy one. Things won’t be simple, and Mare’s life, even at the end of the series, was still complicated and full of challenges.

Ruffalo: She’s going to an AA meeting. Tom and Mare can meet at an AA meeting.

Tom Pelphrey plays Robbie Prendergrast, a sanitation worker who seeks revenge for his brother’s death. He targets the homes used by a local gang, but ends up in a dangerous and potentially fatal confrontation. (HBO)

HBO’s “Task” stars Mark Ruffalo as a former priest and current FBI agent haunted by the murder of his wife – a crime committed by their adopted son. Silvia Dionicio and Phoebe Fox also feature in the series.

Someone asked if the creators ever considered having characters from “Mare of Easttown” pop up in this show, since both take place in the same world. It’s a question I’ve been wondering myself – a little crossover would be amazing, right?

That’s an interesting point. In an early version of the script, we had a scene at a concert featuring Emily (Silvia Dionicio) and her boyfriend, Leo, who’s a magician. Mare’s daughter, Siobhan (Angourie Rice), was performing, and I believe Leo’s brother was also in the band. They shared a moment because I saw a lot of similarities between Emily and Siobhan – they both seemed to carry a heavy burden, particularly Emily.

Mark Ruffalo believes the two people involved are a good match, even suggesting they’re destined to share a dramatic fate, like going down together.

He’s got a crossover season mapped out for you.

Pelphrey: If we hold hands, we can sink faster.

We initially tried to connect certain elements, but HBO rightly questioned if it was necessary. It felt forced, like we were adding something the story didn’t need. Removing it allowed the story to stand on its own. While a more subtle integration *might* have worked, it risked feeling artificial and like empty fan service, which I wanted to avoid.

Awards

The actor needed time to move past playing her gloomy detective, but she’s eager to reprise the role if the script is compelling.

I want to discuss the Phillies cup. It might seem like a small thing, but it really struck a chord with me. It reminds me of a father secretly struggling with a bad habit.

I often draw from my own life for inspiration, and this is a perfect example. That mug actually belonged to my dad. He’s a huge Phillies fan and never misses a game – there are 162 in a season! If he can’t watch, he’ll listen on the radio while he’s driving. I think it’s true that the little details often reveal larger truths, and Mark’s quirky habit is a good illustration of that.

What really drew me to the show was the incredible detail in the writing. The character drinking from a specific cup and swirling his drink with his finger—it felt so unique and unlike anything else on TV. After reading just the first episode, I knew I wanted to be involved and trusted the direction the show was going. It reminded me of people I grew up with—like a priest I knew who would subtly try to get away with drinking vodka tonics in a Phillies cup. It felt incredibly honest and relatable, like seeing my own family portrayed on screen.

The distinctive accent was a major part of “Mare of Easttown,” and I’m sure that created certain expectations or added pressure for the show’s creators.

Ingelsby explained that the show ‘Mare’ really focused on a tight-knit, very specific community, and he and Kate Winslet were committed to fully immersing themselves in that world. He drew heavily on his uncle – who doesn’t have an accent – for the character of Mark, as his uncle had a varied background including seminary, college, and teaching. Ingelsby noted that while he aimed for authenticity, the accent was subtle; you might catch a hint of it in a few words, but it wasn’t overly pronounced.

Mark Ruffalo explained they attempted to incorporate some of the actor’s unique speech patterns, but it didn’t quite work. The actor does say ‘wooder’ – specifically, ‘cheery wooder ice’ – and some of that was kept in the performance. Ultimately, they didn’t emphasize it heavily because the character already had a distinct direction. Ruffalo imagined the character as someone who had traveled extensively, perhaps even living in South America at some point.

Did you pay many visits to Wawa? I remember Kate telling me about her Wawa experiences.

Pelphrey: I grew up going to Wawa. I was Wawa all the time because I was living out in the suburbs.

Ingelsby: I think Kate ate hoagies or something.

Pelphrey: They make a good sandwich.

Mark Ruffalo joked about gaining weight for a role. He initially used a fat suit, but ended up actually gaining weight. His wife noticed and playfully commented that he was eating his way through Philadelphia. He described himself acting like a greedy troll, constantly suggesting they add scenes where he could eat a sandwich.

Ingelsby: He is an amazing sandwich eater. We were talking about it.

Pelphrey: We were.

Mark Ruffalo said he knew he’d be eating a sandwich in one scene, so he skipped meals beforehand so he could really enjoy it when he finally ate it.

Are you interested in a Season 2, Brad?

Ruffalo: No one wants a Season 2. [the trio laughs] No, I’m kidding. That would be amazing.

Ingelsby: It would be amazing. If people respond and we get a chance to do it.

Could we get that “Task”-”Mare” crossover?

Ingelsby: A lot could happen.

Ruffalo: Some “Mare” people could show up. There could be a love affair.

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2025-10-20 05:33